樗里子甘茂列传 — Shiji

Qin sent Gan Mao to attack Han and capture Yiyang. Chuli Zi was dispatched with a hundred chariots to enter Zhou. The Zhou court sent soldiers to receive him, treating him with great respect. The King of Chu, however, was furious and reproached Zhou, accusing it of showing favoritism to a Qin dignitary. You Teng spoke on behalf of Zhou to the King of Chu: "When Zhi Bo attacked Chouyou, he presented a wide carriage and then followed with troops. Chouyou was destroyed thereby. Why? Because it was unprepared. When Duke Huan of Qi attacked Cai, he proclaimed it was to punish Chu, but in truth he was launching a sneak attack on Cai. Now Qin is a tiger-and-wolf state. If Chuli Zi enters Zhou with a hundred chariots, Zhou will view this as it did with Chouyou and Cai. We have therefore placed halberds in front and powerful crossbows behind—not truly to honor Ji, but rather to restrain him. Moreover, can Zhou possibly have no concern for its own state? We fear that if Zhou perishes, it will bring worry to Your Majesty." The King of Chu was pleased.

When King Wu of Qin died, King Zhao ascended the throne, and Chuli Zi's standing grew even greater. In the first year of King Zhao's reign, Chuli Zi prepared to attack Pu. The governor of Pu was alarmed and requested Hu Yan's help. Hu Yan spoke to Chuli Zi on behalf of Pu: "Are you attacking Pu for the sake of Qin or for Wei? If for Wei, that would be good. If for Qin, it would not be advantageous. The reason Wei maintains itself is because of Pu. If you attack Pu and it falls to Wei, Wei will inevitably be forced to submit. Wei has already lost the territory west of the River and cannot reclaim it because its army is weak. If Pu is absorbed into Wei, Wei will grow strong. When Wei is strong, the region west of the River will surely be in danger. Furthermore, the King of Qin will be observing your actions. If you harm Qin while benefiting Wei, the King will surely hold you accountable." Chuli Zi asked, "What should I do?" Hu Yan replied, "If you release Pu and refrain from attacking, I will try to speak on your behalf and secure favor with the lord of Wei." Chuli Zi said, "Good." Hu Yan entered Pu and told its governor: "Chuli Zi knows Pu is in a weakened state, but he has declared he will certainly take it. I can persuade him to release Pu and not attack." The frightened governor bowed twice and said, "I humbly request this." He then offered three hundred jin of gold, saying, "If the Qin army retreats, please speak of me to the lord of Wei and let me face south as his minister." Thus Hu Yan accepted the gold from Pu and gained prominence in Wei. He then departed, leaving Pu at peace. On the return march, he attacked Pishi, but when Pishi did not surrender, he withdrew.

Five months passed without capturing it, and Gongsun Shi and Chuli Zi indeed contested the campaign. King Wu summoned Gan Mao and considered withdrawing the troops. Gan Mao said: "The pact at Xirang still holds." The king replied: "Yes, it does." He then mobilized all forces and sent Gan Mao to attack. Six thousand enemy heads were cut off, and Yiyang finally fell. King Xiang of Han sent Gongzhong Chi to apologize, and Qin and Han made peace.

Qin sent Xiang Shou to pacify Yiyang and assigned Chuli Zi and Gan Mao to attack Wei's Pishi. Xiang Shou was a member of Queen Mother Xuan's clan and had grown up with King Zhao since childhood, so he was trusted with important matters. When Xiang Shou visited Chu, the Chu court, having heard of Qin's high regard for him, treated him generously. Xiang Shou was defending Yiyang for Qin and was preparing to attack Han. Han's Gongzhong Chi sent Su Dai to speak to Xiang Shou: "A cornered beast will overturn the carriage. If you defeat Han, you humiliate Gongzhong Chi, who will rally his state and return to serving Qin, believing he can surely gain a fief. Now you have taken from Chu the land of Jiekou and given it as a fief to the minor official Yin, while you have sealed off the city of Duyang. If Qin and Chu unite and attack Han again, Han will surely fall. When Han falls, Gongzhong Chi will personally lead his followers to block you in Qin. I hope you will consider this carefully." Xiang Shou said: "My uniting Qin and Chu is not meant to harm Han. Please inform Gongzhong Chi on my behalf that Qin and Han can still reconcile." Su Dai replied: "I have a request to make of Gongzhong Chi. People honor those who are honored by their superiors. Your Majesty's affection for you is not as great as for Gongsun Shi, nor is your wisdom as valued as Gan Mao's. Yet both of those men are kept at a distance from important state affairs in Qin, while you alone hold the king's ear and make decisions for the realm. What is the reason? They have made certain mistakes. Gongsun Shi is aligned with Han, and Gan Mao is aligned with Wei. Therefore the king does not fully trust them. Now if Qin and Chu compete for supremacy while you side with Chu, you are walking the same path as Gongsun Shi and Gan Mao. How then are you different? People say Chu constantly changes its positions, and you will inevitably be abandoned by it—this would be your own fault. Rather than aligning with Chu, you should counsel the king regarding its changes, befriending Han while guarding against Chu. That way you will have no worries. The Han state will first align itself with Gongsun Shi and then entrust its affairs to Gan Mao. Han is your enemy. If you speak of befriending Han while guarding against Chu, you are in effect putting aside personal enmity for the public good." Xiang Shou said: "Yes, I very much wish for Han to join with Qin." Su Dai responded: "Gan Mao promised Gongzhong Chi that Wusui would be returned, along with its people from Yiyang. Now you only collect these territories without restoring them—it will be very difficult." Xiang Shou asked: "Then what should be done? Can Wusui never be returned?" Su Dai answered: "Why not use Qin to petition Chu for Yingchuan on Han's behalf? Yingchuan is Han's dependent territory. If you request it and obtain it, your orders will be heeded in Chu while the territory benefits Han. If your request is denied, the grudge between Han and Chu will not be resolved, and they will both rush to align with Qin. As Qin and Chu compete for supremacy, you could gradually win over Chu and draw Han closer—this would benefit Qin." Xiang Shou asked: "How so?" Su Dai replied: "This is an excellent plan. Gan Mao wished to use Wei to conquer Qi, while Gongsun Shi wished to use Han to conquer Qi. Now you take Yiyang as your accomplishment, draw Han and Chu into Qin's orbit, and punish the crimes of Qi and Wei. In this way, Gongsun Shi and Gan Mao will have no opportunity to act. Gan Mao ultimately persuaded King Zhao of Qin to return Wusui to Han. Xiang Shou and Gongsun Shi opposed this but could not prevail. Because of this, they resented Gan Mao and slandered him. Frightened, Gan Mao abandoned his campaign against Wei's Pibo and fled.

Gan Mao said: 'The mound of Xirang is right there.' The king said: 'So it is.' King Wu summoned Gan Mao, intending to halt military operations. King Xiang of Han sent Gongzhong Chi to Qin to offer apologies, and peace was made with Qin. King Wu eventually went to Zhou, and died there. His younger brother succeeded to the throne as King Zhao. The king's mother, Queen Dowager Xuan, was a woman of Chu. King Huai of Chu resented that when Qin had previously defeated Chu at Danyang, Han had not come to the rescue; he therefore surrounded Yongshi in Han with his troops. Han sent Gongzhong Chi to inform Qin of the emergency and beg for help.

King Zhao of Qin had just come to the throne. His mother, Queen Dowager Xuan, was a native of Chu and refused to send aid. Gongzhong approached Gan Mao, and Gan Mao spoke to King Zhao of Qin on behalf of Han: "Gongzhong has just secured a promise of Qin's rescue, and therefore he dares to resist Chu. Now Yongshi is under siege, but Qin's army does not descend from the Xiao passes. Gongzhong will hold his head high and not come to court, while his rival Gongshu will lead the state southward to ally with Chu. If Chu and Han become one, Wei will not dare disobey, and then the form of attacking Qin will take shape. I do not know: is it more advantageous to sit and wait to be attacked or to attack others?" King Zhao said, "Good." He then dispatched troops down from the Xiao passes to rescue Han. The Chu army withdrew.

When Qin learned that Gan Mao was in Chu, it sent a message to the King of Chu: "We wish you would send Gan Mao back to Qin." The King of Chu consulted Fan Juan: "I wish to install a prime minister from Qin. Who would be suitable?" Fan Juan replied: "I do not know enough to judge." The king pressed: "I wish to install Gan Mao as prime minister. Can this be done?" Fan Juan answered: "It cannot. Shi Ju was a gatekeeper of Xiacai. He would not serve as an official for the great nor manage a household for the small. He was known throughout the world for his shamelessness and meanness. Yet Gan Mao served him faithfully. King Hui was perceptive, King Wu was discerning, and Zhang Yi was eloquent—yet Gan Mao served all of them and held ten positions without fault. Gan Mao is indeed a capable man, but he should not serve as prime minister of Qin. A state with an able prime minister does not benefit the state of Chu. Moreover, Your Majesty once employed Zhao Hua in Yue, but because of the internal difficulties in implementing proper governance, Yue fell into chaos. Thus Chu was able to close the gates at Limai and establish counties in the region of Jiangdong. Your Majesty's achievements were possible precisely because Yue was chaotic while Chu was well governed. Now Your Majesty knows how to employ men in Yue but forgets how to employ them in Qin. I consider this a grave error. If Your Majesty wishes to install a prime minister from Qin, there is no one more suitable than Xiang Shou. Xiang Shou's relationship with the King of Qin is close—they shared clothes in youth and ride in the same carriage as adults, and he handles affairs for the king. If Your Majesty installs Xiang Shou as prime minister of Qin, it will benefit Chu."

Gan Mao finally spoke to King Zhao of Qin, advising that Wusui be returned to Han. Xiang Shou and Gongsun Shi disputed this but could not prevail. Xiang Shou and Gongsun Shi therefore resented Gan Mao and slandered him. Gan Mao, in fear, halted the attack on Puban in Wei and fled. Chuli Zi negotiated peace with Wei, and the armies withdrew. Gan Mao fled from Qin and went to Qi, where he met Su Dai. Su Dai was serving as an envoy from Qi to Qin. Gan Mao said: "I have offended Qin and, in fear, fled into exile, with nowhere to take refuge. I have heard that a poor woman and a wealthy woman were once spinning together. The poor woman said, 'I cannot afford candles, but your candlelight is more than enough. Could you spare me some of your excess light? It would not diminish your brightness, and I would gain a small convenience.' Now I am in distress while you are on your way to Qin as an envoy, in a strategic position. My wife and children are there. I hope you will use your excess light to assist them." Su Dai promised. He then completed his mission in Qin. Afterwards, he took the opportunity to speak to the King of Qin, saying:

Gan Mao is no ordinary man. During his time in Qin, he was held in high esteem for generations. From the Xiao passes to Ghost Valley, he knows clearly the dangers and ease of the terrain. If he uses Qi to align Han and Wei and then plots against Qin, it will not benefit Qin." The King of Qin said, "Then what should be done?" Su Dai said, "Your Majesty should increase his gifts and emoluments and welcome him. When he comes, settle him at Ghost Valley and never let him leave." The King of Qin said, "Good." He then granted Gan Mao the rank of Shangqing and sent the prime minister's seal to welcome him in Qi. Gan Mao did not go. Su Dai then spoke to King Min of Qi: "Gan Mao is a worthy man. Now Qin has granted him the rank of Shangqing and sent the prime minister's seal to welcome him. Gan Mao, grateful for Your Majesty's favor, wishes to be your minister, and therefore he declined and did not go."

"Now with what ceremony should the King of Qi treat him?" The King of Qi said, "Good." He treated him with the honors of a superior minister. Qin then restored Gan Mao's family estate to show goodwill to Qi. Qi sent Gan Mao on a mission to Chu; King Huai of Chu had just allied with Qin through marriage and was on friendly terms. The King of Chu asked Fan Yuan, "I wish to place a chancellor in Qin; who is suitable?" He answered, "I am not capable of recognizing such a person." The King of Chu said, "I wish to make Gan Mao chancellor of Qin; is that permissible?" He replied, "No."

Zhang Tang said to Lü Buwei: "I once led a campaign against Zhao on behalf of King Zhaoxiang of Qin. Zhao holds a grudge against me and has declared that whoever captures me will be rewarded with a hundred li of land. To reach Yan now, I must pass through Zhao—I cannot make this journey." Lü Buwei was deeply displeased but had no way to compel him.

Gan Mao ultimately could not return to Qin and died in Wei. Gan Mao had a grandson named Gan Luo. Gan Luo was Gan Mao's grandson. After Gan Mao's death, Gan Luo, then twelve years old, served Qin's Chancellor Wenxin Hou Lü Buwei. The First Emperor of Qin sent Lord Gangcheng Cai Ze to Yan; after three years, King Xi of Yan sent Crown Prince Dan to Qin as a hostage. Qin sent Zhang Tang to serve as chancellor of Yan, intending to ally with Yan to attack Zhao in order to expand the Hejian region. Zhang Tang said to Wenxin Hou: 'I once attacked Zhao on behalf of King Zhaoxiang of Qin, and Zhao bears a grudge against me, saying, "Whoever captures Zhang Tang will be rewarded with land of a hundred li." Now to go to Yan I must pass through Zhao; I cannot go.' Wenxin Hou was displeased but had no means to coerce him.

Gan Luo said: 'My lord, why are you so displeased?' Wenxin Hou said: 'I sent Lord Gangcheng Cai Ze to serve Yan for three years, and now Crown Prince Dan of Yan has come as a hostage. I personally asked Sir Zhang to go as chancellor to Yan, but he refused.' Gan Luo said: 'Allow me to arrange it.' Wenxin Hou rebuked him: 'Leave! I asked him personally and he refused; how could you possibly manage it?' Gan Luo said: 'Xiang Tuo at the age of seven became the teacher of Confucius. I am now twelve years old. My lord should put me to the test—why rush to rebuke me?' Then Gan Luo went to see Sir Zhang and said: 'How does your merit compare with that of Lord Wu An?' Sir Zhang said: 'Lord Wu An in the south crushed the mighty Chu, in the north overawed Yan and Zhao; he won battles, captured cities, destroyed fortresses and brought down towns beyond number. My merit does not equal his.' Gan Luo said: 'When the Marquis of Ying was employed in Qin, was he as absolute as Wenxin Hou?' Sir Zhang said: 'The Marquis of Ying was not as absolute as Wenxin Hou.'

Gan Luo then said: 'You clearly know he is not as absolute as Wenxin Hou?' Sir Zhang replied: 'I know it.' Gan Luo said: 'The Marquis of Ying wanted to attack Zhao, and Lord Wu An opposed him. As a result, Wu An was forced to leave Xianyang and died at Duyou, just seven miles from the capital. Now the Marquis of Wenxin has personally requested you to serve as chancellor of Yan, and you refuse. I do not know where you will meet your end.' Zhang Tang said: 'Please, then, I will go as the young master suggests.' He ordered his luggage prepared for the journey. After a date for departure was set, Gan Luo said to Wenxin Hou: 'Lend me five carriages; allow me to go ahead to Zhao on behalf of Zhang Tang.'

Zhang Tang relented: "Very well, I will go at the boy's request." He ordered his belongings packed for departure.

Gan Luo returned and reported to the King of Qin. Thereupon the King enfeoffed Gan Luo as upper lord and bestowed on him the fields and residence that had originally belonged to Gan Mao. The Grand Historian remarks: Chulizi was esteemed because of his kinship ties; this was only natural. Yet the people of Qin praised his wisdom, so I have adopted many of those accounts. Gan Mao rose from the alleys of Xiacai, made his name illustrious among the feudal lords, and gained the respect of the powerful states of Qi and Chu. Gan Luo, though very young, came up with an extraordinary stratagem, and his fame was handed down to later ages. He may not have been a gentleman of unwavering integrity, but he was a master strategist of the Warring States period. At the time of Qin's ascendancy, the whole world was all the more inclined towards schemes and deceit!

Lord Yan, whose personal name was Ji, was nicknamed ‘Sack of Wisdom’. Being both a close kinsman and a high minister, he led troops to drive back foreign foes. Gan Mao served as chancellor, initially assisting Wei Zhang. He recommended Xiang Shou and then attacked Yiyang. Gan Luo, in his tender years, ultimately succeeded in dispatching Zhang Tang.